Seeding Rate and Genotype Effect on Agronomic Performance and End‐Use Quality of Winter Wheat

Abstract

Few experiments have studied how seeding rates affect agronomic performance and end‐use quality of modern wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes in the Great Plains. Higher grain yield and better quality grain production requires the use of appropriate seeding rates. During the 1997 and 1998 crop seasons, 20 winter wheat genotypes and experimental lines were evaluated at two locations (four environments) to assess seeding rate and genotype effects on agronomic performance and end‐use quality of wheat. Significant differences among environments, seeding rates, and genotypes, and some of their interactions were identified. Lower seeding rates decreased plant population (by 62.3%), grain yield (by 0.8 Mg ha−1), kernel weight (by 1.3 mg kernel−1), flour yield (by 0.8 g/100 g grain), mixing time (by 0.7 min), caused later flowering (by 2 d), and increased flour protein content (by 15 mg g−1) and mixing tolerance (1 unit). Environment × genotype interactions were significant for all the traits except plant population and mixing tolerance. On the basis of the four environments, the seeding rate × genotype interactions were nonsignificant for all traits except plant height. These results provide evidence that agronomic performance and end‐use quality traits are greatly influenced by the environmental conditions and less so by seeding rates. Seeding rate affected plant population, days to flowering, plant height, grain yield, kernel weight, flour yield, flour protein, and mixing time and tolerance of wheat; therefore, seeding rate should be considered as a factor in obtaining higher grain yields with good end‐use quality.

Effect of seeding rate on grain quality of winter wheat

“…These results agree with findings of Geleta et al (2002), who reported significant differences among environments, seeding rates, genotypes, and some of their interactions. They found out that lower seeding rates decreased plant population, grain yield, kernel weight, flour yield, mixing time, caused later flowering, and increased flour protein content and mixing tolerance.…”

“…Results are in accordance with the findings of Geleta et al (2002). They pointed out that seeding rate is a predictable environmental factor that affects some agronomic and enduse quality traits of wheat; therefore, it should be studied carefully to obtain higher grain yields with better end-use quality.…”

“…In crops with a lower density, a greater number of secondary tillers is created, which produce small grains with less weight and lower quality. These results agree with those of Geleta et al (2002), and may have been caused by the presence of additional secondary tillers that delayed maturity and reduced kernel uniformity at lower seeding rates. The later tillers produce smaller grains which result in low grain volume weight.…”

“…The results suggest that lower seeding rates may be adequate under excellent growing conditions (Lloveras et al, 2004). Seeding rate should be considered as a factor in obtaining higher grain yield with good enduse quality (Geleta et al, 2002). Optimum seeding rates for grain yield of winter cereals may be higher when seeding is delayed past the optimum date of seeding.…”

Spring wheat yield response to variable seeding rates in organic farming systems at different fertility regimes

“…Although the compensation by tillering can mitigate yield losses, tillers flower later than main stems. If there is insufficient time for tillers to mature there will be no yield benefit (Geleta et al 2002). Protein content is a function of the quantity of nitrogen (N) available to the wheat plant (Holford et al 1992) in combination with climatic conditions.…”